Soccer season kicks off on AMI

Tryouts for the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s recreational soccer league concluded Sept. 4 and, barring any last-minute adjustments for parity, teams are ready for play.

Coaches will be contacting team members and scheduling practices shortly, meaning another great season of soccer is just around the corner.

Uniform handouts and the always-popular spaghetti dinner put on every year by the Beach Bistro is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Center. Cost for the dinner is $6 for adults and $5 for children.

Also on tap is “Spirit Week,” a kind of pre-season warmup Sept. 18-19 for parents and fans, players, too, to leap into a frenzy of team support. Parents and fans from each of the teams compete with each other for points to see which team has the best fans. Face-painting, wigs, team colors, creative chants, cow bells and vuvuzela horns are encouraged if your team is to have any chance of capturing the spirit prize. The winning team and its supporters are announced at the season-ending awards event, and receive a free round of ice cream at Dips Ice Cream.

Spirit Week requires the players and coaches play a series of “mini games” to check out formations and positions, while also scouting the competition before the games count in the standings.

Picture day for teams and players also will take place at the Center Sept. 19 and the regular season schedule will get started Sept. 21.

Bowling tournament update

The report in The Islander last week that stated high-scorer Bryan Fritz was disqualified at the O’Connor Bowling Challenge because he is a professional bowler was in jest, in the spirit of the fun event.

We regret any misunderstanding and congratulate Fritz for rolling a tournament-winning high game and series.

Horseshoe news

Debbie Rhodes and Hank Huyghe had the only 3-0 pool-play record and were outright winners at the Sept. 5 horseshoe games at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Three teams tied for second and battled it out for the runner-up spot. Sam Samuels and Herb Ditzel rolled past Jay Disbrow and Bob Heiger 23-3 to earn a matchup with Steve Grossman, who walked his way past the Samuels-Ditzel team to claim second place.

The Sept. 2 games were short-lived due to rain. First place went to John Johnson and Jay Disbrow, while Steve Doyle and Tom Skoloda came in at the runner-up spot.

Play gets under way at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by team selection. There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.

Golf benefit canceled

Due to a lack of early registration, the Sept. 26 golf tournament to benefit Manatee High School Her-icanes girls soccer club has been canceled.

To learn how you can help the team fund road trips, warmup uniforms and other expenses, contact Islander sports writer/Her-icane coach Cassidy at 941-807-1105.

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